Chapter 63: The Vanguard's Reckoning
The earth quaked beneath them.
Jean surged forward, her blade lit with Celeste's divine radiance. Behind her, the Vanguard thundered into the battlefield like a living tide. Aura clashed with fire, magic burst against dragonhide, and steel met fang in a cataclysm of war.
The first to reach the breach was Silvia Luther.
She moved like wind and flame—elegant, lethal. Every stroke of her blade carved a path through the dragonspawn swarming the walls. Jean caught a glimpse of her sister: silent, focused, a storm encased in calm.
> "Hold the western flank!" Silvia shouted. "Don't let them circle!"
A platoon of Iron Knights rallied behind her.
To the east, Erin Magus levitated above the battlefield, her robes smoldering with magical runes. With a whisper, she summoned a comet of blue fire from the heavens, annihilating a cluster of flying drakes in a blinding explosion.
> "Ryan," she called without turning, "the barrier!"
Ryan Magus, hands trembling but voice steady, unleashed a cascading wave of hex-shields across the eastern wall, buying the defenders precious time.
From above, Karen, Emissary of Thunder, dove like a falling star. Her divine eagle dove with her, both cloaked in tempest. She struck Vharaxx mid-flight—thunder cracking as her spear pierced the beast's neck. It howled, veering off-course, crashing through two towers before vanishing into smoke.
> "One!" she snarled. "That's one!"
Jean landed beside her moments later, Whitney leaping down and tearing through a wyvern as though it were cloth.
> "Karen," Jean shouted, "we hold here!"
> "Understood!" Lightning danced around her as she spun, launching herself back into the sky.
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In the center of the ruined square, Vaelros the Hollow emerged from shadow, two curved daggers in his hands. He moved faster than the eye could follow—slitting throats, vanishing, appearing again. No words. Just blood and silence.
By his side, Raven Luther fought with wild precision, her black hair stained red, her eyes locked on Jean. A silent nod passed between them. Whatever bitterness had lingered—it was gone in the fire.
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Then—he came.
A tear ripped through the sky above the citadel.
From within it, Antares's voice echoed—not in words, but in will. Every soul felt it in their marrow. Every heartbeat stilled for a breath.
"You had time."
"You built walls, forged swords, named yourselves kings..."
"But you never changed."
"Now—you burn."
And from the rip in the sky, Antares descended.
Larger than any beast born of flesh. Wings like nightfall. Eyes like dying stars.
His mere presence began to melt stone.
Jean stepped forward.
The battlefield fell silent as she raised her sword.
Whitney growled at her side, his body already brimming with divine fury.
> "So be it," Jean said.
> "Let this be the reckoning."
> "Let this be the end."
The ground erupted as Antares roared—and the true war began.
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